Amusement device



oct. 3, 1939, H. F, BETHELL 2,174,716

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 26, 191.58

j ATTORNEYS,

Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED SATS ATENT OFFHCE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in amusement devices and is particularly directed to an improved construction of ski slide, whereby the same technique can be employed as when skiing .on snow.

In the drawing accompanying this application:

Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic View of an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary part sectional view of my apparatus; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View.

Referring to the drawing in detail: 2 designates the base of my improved slide. This base may be of Wood or metal and as understood it will be supported above ground at desired elevation by any suitable supporting structure, the construction of which constitutes no part of my invention.

The base 2 is preferably in the form of a trough-like structure and receives and supports a plurality of blocks 4 which are to provide the riding surface for my improved slide. These blocks are placed side by side in abutting relation as shown in Fig. 2 and are composed of moulded rubber or rubber-like material. The upper surface of each .of these blocks is provided with a plurality of flexible projections 6. These members preferably extend perpendicular to the plane of the blocks 4 and are preferably integral therewith, so that they may be moulded during the process of moulding the blocks 4. I have shown these projections more or less cone-shaped in elevation, but it is to be understood that they may take other shapes if desired. For example, they might be flat sided.

The projections 6, as above noted, are to provide the riding or sliding surface for the ski. Part of a ski blade is shown at 8 in Fig. 2, and it Will be appreciated from an inspection of this view that inasmuch as the projections 6 are flexible and are spaced from each other less than the width of the ski blade, as the ski rides over them they will be deflected as shown in Fig. 2 so as to enable the movement of the ski blade to be controlled much the same as in snow, permitting a skier to execute all the maneuvers that are possible on snow.

The sliding surface of my apparatus being rubber, it is desirable to provide some method of lubricating the same. To this end, therefore,

each of the blocks 4 is provided with ports or passages Il), which can conveniently be moulded into the blocks. The base 2 is provided with grooves l2 lying directly beneath the ports l0, and if water be kept in the base 2 and grooves l2, 5 the passage of a skier over the surface of the blocks d will be suflicient to cause the water to be forced through the ports I0 upon the projections 6. Of course, if desired, the -ports I0 may be dispensed with, in which event water may be 10 caused to flow down the inclined surface of the blocks 4, thereby to Wet or lubricate the projections 6.

It will be seen from all of the foregoing that my invention provides an inclined structure 15 adapted for amusement purposes to be used as a ski slide or ski run, wherein the riding surface is made of flexible rubber projections adapted to yield as the ski passes over them sol as to provide a surface comparable to snow. 20

It is to be understood, of course, that changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts within the purview of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A slide, the face of which is composed of a plurality of exible rubber members projecting from the body of the slide, and means for lubrieating said members.

2. A slide composed of a plurality of rubber blocks, the face of each of which is provided with integral projections to provide a sliding surface, and means for supplying a lubricant to said projections.

3. A slide composed of a plurality of rubber 35 blocks provided with integral projections which provide a sliding surface, each of said blocks being provided with ports for the passage of water through the blocks to said projections thereby to lubricate the same. 40

4. A ski slide comprising a plurality of compressible rubber blocks provided with integral exible projections providing a yielding sliding surface, and water channels in the blocks opening to the block faces, whereby compression of the 45 blocks as a loaded ski passes over them will force Water t'o the surface of the blocks to eect lubrication of the projections.

HUGH F. BETHELL. 50 

